Stanley
Stanley No. 8 Jointer Plane
The largest Bailey bench plane: two feet of sole and the widest iron in the range. Magnificent, heavy, and more plane than most work needs.
- 1869–1960
- Bench Plane
- high confidence
| Model | No. 8 |
|---|---|
| Production | 1869–1960 |
| Sole length | 24" |
| Cutter width | 2-5/8" |
| Body | cast iron, japanned |
| Handles | rosewood knob and tote (later hardwood) |
How to identify it
- 24 inch sole, 2-5/8 inch iron - the widest standard Bailey iron.
- Corrugated version is the No. 8C.
- Weight alone identifies it. If you can lift it comfortably in one hand, it is a No. 7.
Buying and using
Prices hold up better than the No. 7 because fewer were made and because the size has cachet. For actual jointing, the No. 7 is the more practical tool.
The same size from other makers
These do the same job at the same size. Parts do not interchange between makers, but the shaving does not know the difference - and where one maker commands a collector premium, another usually does not.
| Maker | Called | Made |
|---|---|---|
| Millers Falls | No. 24 | 1929–1975 |
| Record | No. 08 | 1931–present |
| Sargent | No. 424 | 1887–1964 |
| Stanley | No. 608 | 1898–1943 |
Dating this plane
This maker published no dating information, so collectors reconstructed one. Work from the body casting rather than the knob, tote or iron, all of which get replaced. The Stanley type study lists the features era by era, with a dating marks table at the foot of it.
What it is worth
- user / incomplete $50–$100
- complete, honest wear $110–$220
- excellent, pre-war type $230–$450
Sources
- reference-site
Patrick Leach's Blood & Gore (Stanley plane model-by-model commentary) — Patrick Leach - book
Stanley Tools: Guide to Identity and Value — John Walter
Others in this family
-
Stanley No. 1 Smoothing Plane
The smallest bench plane Stanley made, and the one every collector wants.
-
Stanley No. 2 Smoothing Plane
The smallest Bailey with a tote.
-
Stanley No. 3 Smoothing Plane
A smoother one size down from the No. 4, and the size most people find comfortable once they have used both.
-
Stanley No. 4 Smoothing Plane
The most-produced bench plane in history and the default smoother in every workshop that has one.
-
Stanley No. 4-1/2 Smoothing Plane
A wide, heavy smoother.
-
Stanley No. 5 Jack Plane
The jack plane - the jack of all trades, and the plane most likely to be in a box at an estate sale.
-
Stanley No. 5-1/4 Junior Jack Plane
A narrow, short jack sold heavily into school manual-training programmes.
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Stanley No. 5-1/2 Jack Plane
A wide, heavy jack.